Djokovic outlasts Auger-Aliassime in a five-hour epic to reach the Wimbledon semis
The seven-time champion won a deciding-set tie-break to book a record eighth straight Wimbledon semi-final, and a showdown with Jannik Sinner.
Novak Djokovic dug through the longest match of this year's Championships to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals, outlasting Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-7, 7-6 in a contest that ran for just over five hours on Centre Court.
The seventh seed took the opening set on a 12-10 tie-break, lost the next to a resurgent Auger-Aliassime, and traded the third and fourth before the match came down to a deciding-set tie-break. There, Djokovic leaned on the composure that has defined his career at the All England Club, closing out a win that stretched both players well past the four-hour mark.
The result carries Djokovic into the Wimbledon semi-finals for a record eighth successive year. He now holds seven titles here, one behind Roger Federer's men's record of eight, and it was his 45th career win over a top-five opponent, also the most in the game. Even the surroundings tested his patience: he complained to officials about the decision to close the roof, questioning the consistency of the call.
Auger-Aliassime, still chasing a first Grand Slam final, pushed the 24-time major champion to the very limit and leaves London ruing the fine margins of a match decided on a handful of points.
Djokovic now meets defending champion and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who reached the last four by beating Jan-Lennard Struff in straight sets. It is a heavyweight rematch: Sinner leads their head-to-head 6-5 and ended Djokovic's run at this same stage a year ago. For Djokovic, still hunting a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title, few obstacles loom larger than the man who has become his most difficult opponent.
